Man pleads guilty to manslaughter

Gerard Devlin was stabbed to death in February 2006

One of the five men accused of murdering father-of-six Gerard Devlin has pleaded guilty to his unlawful killing.

Francisco Notorantonio, 21, denied murdering Mr Devlin, and told Belfast Crown court: "Not guilty to murder, guilty to manslaughter".

He also pleaded guilty to other charges of affray, malicious wounding and attempted malicious wounding.

Mr Devlin, 39, was stabbed to death outside his home in February 2006.

The prosecution have been given time to consider the guilty plea to manslaughter and are expected back in court later on Wednesday.

Francisco Notorantonio's co-accused, Christopher Notorantonio, 56, Anthony Notorantonio, 50, William Notorantonio, 24, and Paul Burns, 26, have pleaded guilty to affray but still face a charge of murder.

The defendants, all from the Ballymurphy area of west Belfast, were remanded in custody for sentencing.